Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan

Dato’ Dr. Halim ManIn view of the depleting conventional energy sources, global warmingand climate change issues are becoming a serious global concern.The Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water has been taskedto provide sustainable and long term national solutions to address thechallenges.Malaysia has been very fortunate to be blessed with fossil fuel energy resources.With the fast depletion of current fossil fuel resources and the urgency of climatechange issues, our Ministry has been tasked with the responsibility of securing newalternative energy sources.The main objectives of Malaysia’s National Energy Policy is to ensure the provisionof adequate, secure, and cost-effective energy supplies through developingindigenous energy resources; both non-renewable and renewable energy resourcesfrom within and outside the country.The fossil fuel which the world relies onheavily today generates harmful CarbonDioxide (CO2) and other Green HouseGases (GHGs) which have resulted inextreme changes in global climate. As aresult, today, we are now observing extremeweather conditions such as drought, flashfloods as well as food and water shortagein some parts of the world.These disasters can harm the lives ofmany people and destroy the economiesof many countries. We need to essentiallyensure that future energy sources areenvironmentally-friendly.The true cost and therein solution of fuelneeds to internalise the cost of theseexternalities. We need to be in controlof the alternative fuel sources such asindigenous renewable sources withoutrelying on others for supply.We need to be in controlof the alternative fuelsources such as indigenousrenewable sourceswithout relying on othersfor supply. Any new andalternative sources offuel must provide us withenergy autonomy aswell as spur new socioeconomicgrowth in thecountry.Any new and alternative sources of fuel must provide us with energy autonomyas well as spur new socio-economic growth in the country. In addition, theremust be distributed wealth creation for the people through creation of new jobopportunities, development of vibrant green economic activities and a healthier157